Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus comprises a frame (1), a loading assembly (2) for variable adjustment of the rotation resistance about a shaft (3) associated with the assembly, and a gripping device (8) connected to the shaft. In the exercise apparatus according to the invention, the gripping device (8) is part of a series of such devices. Coupling means (9, 10) are arranged for quick-release coupling of the different gripping devices (8) to the shaft (3) in the loading assembly (2), which by frictional engagement generates the rotation resistances, which are independently adjustable in the two directions of rotation (6, 7) of the shaft (3).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for body building, physiotherapy,and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Keep-fit exercises or remedial exercises have conventionally required anumber of apparatus for exercising different groups of muscles. As arule, these exercise apparatus have utilised the action of gravity toexercise the muscles. Thus, such apparatus comprise gripping devices,which are connected to weights by means of wires. By moving the grippingdevice in relation to his body, the person doing the exercises alsodisplaces the weights, generally by lifting them in one operation andlowering them in another operation.

However, such prior-art exercise apparatus are usually heavy, bulky andstationary, which is a serious drawback in physiotherapy, since thepatients have to come to the workout gymnasium, instead of having it theother way around. Furthermore, the exercise apparatus make loud noiseswhen the weights fall back to their resting positions after eachcompleted exercising movement. Yet another drawback is that the load canonly be adjusted in both directions at the same time, i.e. the sameforce is required to lift the weights in one operation and as isrequired to resist when the weights are lowered in the subsequentoperation. The return force generated when the weights are lowered may,in addition, be undesirable in certain types of exercise andphysiotherapy.

In an effort to solve these problems, hydraulically as well aselectrically-braked exercise apparatus have been developed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,041 discloses an instance of a hydraulically-brakedexercise apparatus, which comprises a bottom plate, a vertical postconnected to the bottom plate and a bifurcated, horizontal arm which, atone end, is rotatably connected to the post and, at the other end,supports handles. A hydraulic system generates a rotation resistanceabout the shaft, thus subjecting the person doing the exercises to aload when standing on the bottom plate and moving the bifurcated arm.The rotation resistance about the shaft can be switched, so as to acteither when the bifurcated arm is being pulled up or when it is beingpressed down.

The hydraulic apparatus according to the U.S. specification isdisadvantageous in being of a fairly heavy and bulky construction, whileat the same time the rotation resistance can be obtained only in onedirection of rotation at a time. Furthermore, the construction suffersfrom a certain lack of flexibility, since the arms and the handlescannot be modified or replaced. Also, the construction is complicatedand, hence, expensive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,163, for instance, teaches an electrically-brakedexercise apparatus, in which a U-shaped gripping device is fixedlymounted in an assembly attached to a bench, so as to enable the user tocarry out the exercises when lying down. This assembly compriseselectric control means which, via an electromagnetic brake, control therotation resistance about an output shaft, to which the gripping deviceis attached. A plurality of angle sensors are provided round the shaftto enable variation of the load not only according to the position ofthe gripping device but also according to the direction of movementthereof.

Like the hydraulically-braked apparatus described above, theelectrically-braked apparatus does not permit the gripping device to bereplaced so as to enable specialised exercise of selected muscle groups.Although of compact design, the U.S. exercise device is not all thateasy to transport, owing to the power supply required.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to overcome the above problemsassociated with the prior art, i.e. to provide an exercise apparatuswhich is compact and easy to transport. In addition, the exerciseapparatus should comprise but a few movable components and be as simpleand robust in its construction as possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus, inwhich the rotation resistance about the shaft can be independentlyadjusted in the two directions of rotation.

It is further a desideratum that the rotation resistance should be softand constant all the time while the user moves the gripping devices.Moreover, the apparatus should be flexible, so that it can be used forexercising most of the muscle groups of the human body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, an exercising apparatus includes a shaftmounted on a frame, a replaceable gripping device which is grippable bya person who is exercising, and a quick-release coupling whichdetachably connects the gripping device to the shaft to facilitatereplacement of the gripping device by another gripping device. A firstwheel is rigidly connected to the shaft when the shaft is rotated in afirst direction and is rotationally disengaged from the shaft when theshaft is rotated in a second direction which is opposite to the firstdirection. A second wheel is rigidly connected to the shaft when theshaft is rotated in the second direction, and is rotationally disengagedfrom the shaft when the shaft is rotated in the first direction. A firstfriction element applies pressure against the periphery of the firstwheel and a second friction element applies pressure against theperiphery of the second wheel. The friction elements are adjustable tovary the frictional resistance to rotation of their respective wheels.

Each friction element preferably comprises at least one annular openloop which is arranged around the periphery of the wheel and has aninside diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of thewheel. A clamping mechanism adjusts the application of the loop againstthe wheel by moving projecting end portions of the loop toward and awayfrom each other.

The inventive device is highly flexible. Basically, it is only theimagination of the user or physiotherapist that sets the bounds to theexercising possibilities. This invention can be implemented in one's ownhome or in a body building centre, and be used for physiotherapeuticpurposes, e.g. in hospital. In hospital, it is desirable that one doesnot have to transport e.g. disabled or injured people in need ofrehabilitation to special exercising premises. The present inventionthen has the advantage of providing a device that is easily movedbetween the hospital wards. Basically, it is only the loading assemblyproper that has to be moved between the wards, if the frame and thegripping devices are available in the respective wards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For exemplifying purposes, the invention will now be described in moredetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustratecurrently preferred embodiments and in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above, showing an exerciseapparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a loading assemblyforming part of the apparatus and being adapted to generate rotationresistance about a shaft, and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing an alternative mechanism foradjusting the rotation resistance of the loading assembly, as well as anindicating device for quantifying the rotation resistance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The exercise apparatus according to the invention comprises a verticallyadjustable frame 1, on which is mounted a loading assembly. Thisassembly, which is generally designated 2, comprises a projecting shaft3 (see FIG. 2) about which other components of the assembly 2 generatean adjustable rotation resistance, as will be described in more detailfurther below. Two clamping screws 4, 5 provided with knobs are mountedon the upper side of the assembly 2. The one clamping screw 4 enablesadjustment of the rotation resistance clockwise about the shaft 3, whichis indicated by an arrow 6 in FIG. 1. Likewise, the other clamping screw5 enables adjustment of the rotation resistance anticlockwise about theshaft 3, which is indicated by an arrow 7 in FIG. 1.

A gripping device 8 is attached to the projecting end portions of theshaft 3 by means of quick-release couplings 9, 10, thus enabling theuser to switch between different gripping devices, which are speciallydesigned with a view to exercising selected muscle groups. Thequick-release couplings 9, 10 further enable the distance between thehandle 11 of the gripping device 8 and the shaft 3 to be adjusted.

A conventional exercise bench 12 is mounted opposite to the frame 1. Thebench 12 comprises a seat 13 and a back rest 14, which both can beangularly adjusted. Moreover, the distance between the bench 12 and theassembly 2 can also be adjusted.

When the illustrated exercise apparatus is to be used, one first adaptsall distances between the user and the handle 11 of the gripping device8 to suit the user. The seat 13 and the back rest 14 of the bench 12 areset in suitable angular positions in view of the exercise to beperformed. Suitable rotation resistances are set with the aid of theclamping screws 4, 5, there being one rotation resistance or torque forpulling down the gripping device 8 and another torque for pressing itupwards.

In the illustrated embodiment, the user may sit upright on the bench,either facing the assembly 2 or facing away from it. Having a firm gripof the handle 11, the user may alternately pull down and press up thegripping device 8. If the distance between the handle 11 of the grippingdevice 8 and the assembly 2 is reduced, the user may exercise also hisleg muscles by putting his feet on the handle 11. The user need notnecessarily sit down when performing the exercises, but he may just aswell be standing up or lying down, enabling the exercise of differentmuscle groups.

It goes without saying that the invention is by no means restricted tothe illustrated embodiment of the gripping device 8, but that use can bemade of a series of gripping devices 8, between which the user mayswitch thanks to the quick-release couplings 9, 10 provided at the endportions of the shaft 3. Apart from the U-shaped gripping device shownin FIG. 1, use may, for instance, be made of a T-shaped gripping device,which is attached to the one end portion of the shaft 3 by means of thequick-release coupling 9 or 10. Furthermore, an L-shaped gripping devicemight also be used, in which case the crossbar of the L would constitutethe handle 11. A wheel-like means might also advantageously be used, aswill be described in more detail below.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the quick-release couplings 9, 10 areprovided at the end portions of the shaft 3 to enable the attachment ofa gripping device 8 of the type indicated above. Each quick-releasecoupling 9, 10 is designed as a tube having a cross-sectional shape(here a square shape) corresponding to that of the gripping device 8,enabling the gripping device to be inserted in the tube and be clampedwith the aid of a screw 26.

In one embodiment not shown in the drawings, also the handle 11 isreplaceable, owing to the provision of one or more quick-releasecouplings on the gripping device 8. Thus, the handle 11 may be adaptedto the exercise to be performed, and foot rests may e.g. be provided forleg exercises.

One important aspect of the invention is that the position of theassembly 2 in relation to the frame 1 is in no way restricted to theillustrated embodiment. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, where theshaft 3 is horizontally disposed so as to face away from the user, theuser's movements are performed in a vertical plane. If, on the otherhand, the assembly 2 is so attached to the frame 1 that the shaft 3 isvertically disposed, the user's movements will be performed in ahorizontal plane. Should the assembly 2 be so arranged that the one endportion of the shaft 3 faces the user, lateral turning movements in avertical plane can be carried out if the above-mentioned wheel-likegripping device is fixed to this end portion.

The construction of the assembly 2 will now be described in more detailwith reference to FIG. 2, where the casing shown in FIG. 1 has beenremoved to give a clear view of the interior of the assembly 2. Thus,the assembly 2 comprises a framework 15, in which a shaft 3 is rotatablymounted in a first and a second bearing 16, 17. For reasons of clarity,certain parts of the framework 15 have been cut away in FIG. 2. A firstwheel 18 is arranged on the shaft 3 and is connected thereto by means ofan intermediate bearing, a so-called free hub, which is fixed to theshaft 3 and is able to rotate in one direction only. When rotating, theshaft 3 thus entrains the wheel 18 in one direction but not in theother, opposite direction. Such free hubs are well-known and areavailable on the market. Likewise, a similar second wheel 19 withassociated free hub is arranged on the shaft 3, the directions ofentrainment and clearance being, however, opposite to those of the firstwheel 18.

The shaft 3 is braked by frictional engagement, which can be producedwith the aid of an optional friction element, which is applied againstthe periphery of the respective wheels. In the embodiment shown in FIG.2, this is achieved by the provision of an annular, open loop 20 roundthe periphery of the first wheel 18. The arcuate gripping portion of theloop 20 has an inside diameter that is slightly larger than the outsidediameter of the wheel 18. Further, the loop 20 is formed with free,projecting end portions 21, 22 which are spaced apart from each other. Aclamping mechanism, which is generally designated 23, is acted upon bythe screw 4 and is arranged to clamp the end portions 21, 22, such thatthe arcuate gripping portion of the loop 20 is applied against theperiphery of the wheel 18, thus generating a braking effect thereon.Likewise, the second wheel 19 is enclosed by a similar loop 24performing the same function. The loop 24 is clamped round the wheel 19with the aid of a clamping mechanism 25, to which is connected the screw5.

The clamping mechanism 23 is connected to the spaced-apart, projectingend portions 21, 22 of the loop 19, these end portions 21, 22 beingmovable towards and away from each other by means of the clampingmechanism 23 with a view to adjusting the grip of the loop 20 round thewheel 18. When the distance between the end portions 21, 22 is reduced,the loop 20 is clamped round the wheel 18, such that the frictionalengagement between the gripping portion of the loop 20 and the wheel 18is enhanced, as is the rotation resistance about the shaft 3 in thedirection at issue. When, on the other hand, the distance between theend portions 21, 22 is increased, the frictional engagement is reduced,such that the rotation resistance about the shaft 3 decreases.

Consequently, the wheels 18, 19 arranged on the shaft 3 and havingopposite directions of entrainment and free-wheeling cooperate with therespective loops 20, 24 so as to generate the rotation resistances aboutthe shaft 3, these rotation resistances being independently adjustablein the two directions of rotation 6, 7 of the shaft 3 by means of therespective clamping mechanisms 23, 25.

Naturally, the grip the loop 19 has of the wheel 18 can be achieved insome other way, and the clamping mechanism 23 may, for instance, be asqueezing device or some other sort of device enabling the user toadjust the application of the loop against the periphery of the wheel 18and, hence, vary the load during the exercise.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an instance of an alternative clampingmechanism, which works on the lever principle, so as to clamp the loop20 round the wheel 18. At one end, a lever 26 is connected to the oneend portion 21 of the loop 20. The lever 26 extends over, and isslidably connected to, the other end portion 22 of the loop 20. At theother end, the lever 26 is equipped with a threaded nut 27. A threadedclamping screw 4 connected to a knob is screwed through the nut 27 andis rotatably accommodated in the framework 15. The threaded nut 27 isconnected to an indicating means 28 in the form of a tip projecting fromthe nut 27 and being arranged in conjunction with a scale.

Owing to the distance between the threaded nut 27 and the end portions21, 22 of the loop 20, a comparatively insignificant displacement of thethreaded nut 27 along the clamping screw 4 causes the loop 20 to beapplied against the periphery of the wheel 18 with a considerable force.

Preferably, the indication provided by the indicating means 28 iscalibrated in relation to the rotation resistance about the shaft 3,such that the effort put into the exercise can be quantified.

It will be appreciated that the second wheel 19 may be provided with asimilar clamping mechanism.

We claim:
 1. An exercising apparatus comprising:a frame; a shaft mountedon the frame; a gripping device which is grippable by a person who isexercising; a quick-release coupling detachably connecting the grippingdevice to the shaft to facilitate replacement of the gripping device byanother gripping device; a first wheel which is rigidly connected to theshaft when said shaft is rotated in a first direction and isrotationally disengaged from the shaft when the shaft is rotated in asecond direction which is opposite to said first direction; a firstfriction element applying pressure against the periphery of the firstwheel to provide frictional resistance to rotation of said first wheel,said first friction element being adjustable to vary the frictionalresistance to rotation of the first wheel; a second wheel which isrigidly connected to the shaft when said shaft is rotated in said seconddirection and is rotationally disengaged from the shaft when the shaftis rotated in said first direction; a second friction element applyingpressure against the periphery of the second wheel to provide frictionalresistance to rotation of said second wheel, said second frictionelement being adjustable to vary the frictional resistance to rotationof the second wheel.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachfriction element comprises at least one annular, open loop, whosegripping portion has an inside diameter that is slightly larger than theoutside diameter of the wheel, said loop being arranged around theperiphery of the wheel, and the application of the loop against thewheel being adjustable with the aid of a clamping mechanism.
 3. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the clamping mechanism isconnected to projecting end portions: of the loop, said end portionsbeing spaced apart and movable towards and away from each other by meansof the clamping mechanism, so as to adjust the grip of the loop aroundthe wheel.